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Defense attorneys argued in court Thursday that jurors need to know everything about Boyd to fully understand the threat he posed to officers. Criminal records showed he was arrested on three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor when he was a teenager, and as an adult, documents showed Boyd was convicted several times for battery and assault.

But prosecutors insisted jurors should only know what the officers knew at the time of the shooting. They said allowing Boyd's entire criminal history sends the wrong message.

"It's saying that no matter whether we shot him justifiably or not, it's OK because he was mentally ill, and he had done some bad things in his life and deserved to die," said Special Prosecutor Randi McGinn.

While the judge sided with prosecutors, she reserved the right to change her mind when the trial starts in September.